Hit show at the Chapel

It was an event that had all the makings of a hit show, with a wide range of Burngreave talents being showcased, in the dramatic setting of Burngreave Cemetery Chapel.

I imagined all the acts being combined into a grand performance – a Broadway hit. I wasn’t disappointed as I came out of my mini daydream to the sound of loud applause after the presentation of each project, funded through Creative Burngreave.

The second part of the night began with a performance by Rosie and Eleanor from Jamboree Arts’ Acrofanatics who stole the show as the Botox Twins.

The act started off with a puppet show making fun of people who have botox treatments. Then suddenly as if by magic the puppets came to life dressed as punk rockers who performed acrobatics to the sound of music.

After the show I asked Rosie what has been the feedback so far. She replied modestly: “Delightful, quite delightful.” I asked how they came up with the name. Rosie smiled as she replied: “We wanted to do something that was slightly controversial and serious, yet have a bit of fun with it. Seeing lots of magazine articles and TV programmes on cosmetic surgery, it seems to be increasingly popular with both men and women to have cosmetic surgery done, hence the name.”

An exhilarating performance Twins… Encore!

They were followed by Carmen Franklin, who presented a series of poems to the beat of African drums. It reminded me of school days and the Parish Speech Finals back home. Her finale was The Limbo Dancer, and she surprised us all with a mouth-opening performance of dance movements receiving roaring applause from the audience.

I was quite thrilled with her performance at the event and enquired what inspired her to include drumming. She laughed as she explained: “The drums were arranged, the performance came together, that was quite by accident really”.

Carmen was followed by the contemporary dancer, Simone Thompson, who was breathtaking (pictured centre bottom).

Finally Michelle Scally-Clark’s dub poetry gave us all a reality check and ended the evening on a high.